Device for temporarily providing a seal within an advancing pipe

ABSTRACT

A device for temporarily providing an air seal within an advancing pipe permits cutting off a length of the pipe from the continuously manufactured product without the loss of air pressure within the pipe, and thereby the continuous manufacturing process need not be interrupted.

United States Patent Carter Aug. 12, 1975 1 DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY PROVIDING [56] References Cited A SEAL WITHIN AN ADVANCING PIPE UNITED STATES PATENTS [76] Inventor: J. Warne Carter, Wichita Falls, Tex. 2,164,195 6/1939 Waltennire 138/93 X 2,753,876 7/1956 Kurt 138/93 [221 Flledl 23, 1973 2,865,640 12/1958 Watson et a1.... 269/22 3 068 133 12/1962 Cilker et al. 156/171 N ,7 [21] Appl O 408 90 3,294,121 12/1966 Powell et a1. 138/93 Related U.S. Application Data R27,355 5/ 1972 Skoggard et a1. 156/432 [60] Division of Ser. No. 243,991, April 14, 1972, which is a division of Ser. No. 824,153, May 13, 1969, Pat. Primary Examiner-Charles E van Horn No. 3,700,519, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. Assistant Examiner-Basil J. Lewris No. 577,035, Sept. 2, 1966, Pat. No. 3,507,412, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shapiro and Shapiro which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 387,372, Aug. 4, 1964, abandoned. [57] ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 92/92 92/94 226 62 A device for temporarily providing an air sea] within i 3/00 an advancing pipe permits cutting off a length of the Fie'ld 173 pipe from the continuously manufactured product 156/191, 195, 287, 289, 392, 429, 432, 537; 226/150, 162; 198/24; 214/1 P, 1 PA; 138/93; 269/22, 56; 92/92, 94

without the loss of air pressure within the pipe, and thereby the continuous manufacturing process need not be interrupted.

2 Claims, 69 Drawing Figures PATENTEB AUG '1 21975 3. 89 8 9 1 8 SHEET 2 Page,

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1. A device for temporarily providing an air seal within an advancing pipe comprising a first air conveying tube adapted to extend through the pipe, a rigid perforated sleeve connected to a second air conveying tube in communication with the interior of said sleeve, the second tube being in communication with and connected to the first tube to allow longitudinal movement of the second tube and the sleeve relative to the first tube, an inflatable container secured to surround the sleeve, said container when inflated gripping the inner surface of the pipe and movable therewith, and extensible means for returning said second tube, sleeve and associated inflatable container upon deflation of the container.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first tube has the forward end thereof flared and positioned in the rear end of the second tube, a hub slidable on the first tube and secured to the rear end of the second tube, said hub providing means limiting the relative longitudinal movement between the tubes; and wherein the extensible means comprises a helically coiled spring having one end secured to the first tube and its opposite end secured to the hub. 